LAGOS/Nigeria: Students and education stakeholders have been urged to expose children early to diverse career opportunities, particularly within the human rights sector, to help them make informed choices and become agents of positive social change.
The call was made at the 2026 Career Summit organised by Headfort Foundation for Justice in Lagos, where speakers emphasised that careers in human rights advocacy extend far beyond the legal profession. The summit, themed “Becoming a Voice: Careers in Human Rights Advocacy,” was held at Ikosi Senior Girls High School and brought together students from several secondary schools across the state.
Ms. Olajumoke Ogunfowora, Head of Legal Department at Headfort Foundation for Justice, said the initiative was designed to broaden students’ understanding of career opportunities within the human rights sector. She noted that a pre-summit survey revealed that many students believed human rights work was limited to legal practice.
According to Ogunfowora, the programme exposed participants to career paths in journalism, activism, social work, law enforcement and other fields that contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights. She added that the summit sought to encourage students across science, commercial and arts disciplines to see themselves as potential advocates for justice and social development.
She explained that while human rights clubs already existed in many schools, they were often wrongly perceived as platforms meant only for aspiring lawyers. “We are trying to get them to see that human rights club membership is for everyone interested in protecting the rights of others,” she said.
Participating schools included Ikosi Junior High School, Ikosi Senior High School, Ayedere Senior Grammar School, Kosofe Senior College and Ojota Senior Secondary School.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ene Sarah Unobe, Executive Director of the International Centre for Human Rights, Nonviolence and Safety Awareness, urged young people to embrace human rights advocacy as a pathway to leadership and social transformation.
She warned that the failure to engage youths in meaningful advocacy and community activities could leave them vulnerable to cybercrime, cultism, drug abuse and electoral violence. According to her, criminal groups often target young people because of their energy, curiosity and willingness to explore new opportunities.
Unobe stressed the need to strengthen human rights clubs and other social platforms in schools, noting that they provide productive channels for nurturing leadership qualities and civic responsibility.
She lamented the decline of traditional youth organisations such as the Boys Brigade and Girls Guide, saying the vacuum created had been exploited by cult groups and other negative influences.
Describing young people as “change makers,” Unobe said they possessed the capacity to reduce injustice and promote accountability when properly guided and empowered.
“The world urgently needs a new generation of passionate human rights defenders committed to fairness and accountability,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Ukwueze, Chairman of the Outreach, Advocacy and Sensitisation Sub-Committee of the Lagos NBA Human Rights Committee, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to providing free legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses.
Ukwueze said the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, had intervened in numerous rights violation cases through litigation, advocacy campaigns and engagements with security agencies. He noted that complaints were received through calls, text messages and other communication channels.
According to him, the committee had also organised sensitisation programmes in schools, markets and communities, while regularly monitoring detention facilities and police stations to ensure the rights of detainees were protected.
“We check offences, cell conditions, detention duration and whether rights have been violated,” he said.
Explaining that legal representation in human rights cases was offered on a pro bono basis, Ukwueze said NBA lawyers continued to represent several inmates in court free of charge and, in some instances, provided welfare support.
He commended Headfort Foundation for Justice for organising the summit and called for sustained advocacy efforts across communities.
DSP Mogaji Idris of the Lagos State Police Command underscored the importance of educating young people on both their rights and responsibilities.
Idris, who serves in the Complaint Response Unit, said the unit was committed to promoting justice, accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights while ensuring police officers remained answerable for their conduct.
He praised the organisers for targeting students, noting that early exposure to human rights education would help foster responsible behaviour, civic consciousness and respect for the rule of law.
“I like the fact that children are being involved and educated about their rights,” he said.
